When looking for ideas for baby gifts, are you the same as me, where maybe you don’t have kids yet, or you do, but your friend is about to become a mum.
Question is – what do you buy? Do you buy overly practical baby presents and be deemed as boring? What about the educational route? Really? From birth? This was my dilemma, when my lovely sister announced she was going to become a mum.
The idea of a baby shower, exciting as it is can also be quite daunting for folk such as me. So I got to thinking about going for a balance between practical and fun, oh and also not budget busting!
If you are looking for a larger gift, read our review of the best baby gift box in 2021.
How to choose cheap baby gifts in 2021
My criteria for great baby gifts that have been well received and played with are as follows.
- Cute baby gifts need to be great value for play – so they’re not binned by the end of the day.
- Baby gifts need to have long play life and educational elements so you get the most value for money.
- At the minimum, I would expect them to have received excellent reviews from a number of sources – this is always my thing!
- Educational gifts should give the baby a variety of experiences.
- All baby gifts should have a great price tag.
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So here’s my list of recommendations:
1. Bath tub crayons
Babies absolutely adore bath time, especially if they can splash around and draw all over the walls.
2. Terry bath mitts
What better thing to chew and throw around in the bath than these handy terry mitts that double up as fun baby washers.
Check current prices on Amazon
3. Wooden Walker
Another inexpensive unique baby gift, could be this wooden walker. Baby can experiment and play with the blocks while really young, then will get the added advantage of growing with this sturdy toy, eventually using it to steady themselves while walking.
My niece absolutely adored hers and caused havoc as a toddler, hurtling around the house with it!
Head over to Amazon and find out more
4. Ubbi Bath Toys.
I absolutely love this range of toys: Ubbi Connect and Build Bath Toys for Toddlers and Baby. The whole range of Ubbi’s is really well thought out. Without realising it, baby will develop greater hand eye coordination, and all whilst playing in the bath! These cool little pieces (big enough for baby) will link together, but float on the surface. If the little one is prone to throwing things around, these are soft and safe. A brilliant feature for mum also, is that they can be shoved in the dishwasher to clean and are also non toxic.
Find out more and purchase here.
5. Cute hooded Bath Towel
A baby towel is such a cute baby shower gift. Many of them are also hypoallergenic now and guaranteed to keep baby warm, when they are ready to be dried.
Find out more about the Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Animal Face Hooded Towel
6. Double sided car seat baby wrap
Ok so this might be a baby shower gift idea or newborn gift that nobody else has actually thought of. It’s not overly expensive and is a custom designed baby blanket for a car seat. Inspired! My sister has complained in the past about normal fleeces or blankets not quite being the correct size or shape. The advantage is that mum will know baby is secure, but she won’t be worrying about the wrap moving.
7.A Clip on Pram Toy – Lamaze’s Freddie The Firefly
The reason it’s so good as a baby gift is that it is so versatile. Baby can chew it, pull it and listen the different sounds it produces. Older babies can squeeze the ball on the toy, therefore building their motor skills.
8. Labebe Baby Board Books – Waterproof
Maybe for the boy or girl who already seems to have everything, this could be a big win as a new baby gift. They can be chewed, spilt on, puked on and will still be brilliant little books for parents to read to their bundle of joy.
9. ThinkFun Roll and Play Game
This is really cool first game for kids. Simply roll the cube and choose the matching color card and do the simple activity shown, such as “Make a happy face”, “Moo like a cow” or “Find something blue”. It’s fun and easy and something you can do together.
10.The First Year Stack Up Cups
Another cheap gift for babies could be these fun stacking cups – they can be used anywhere, from water trays, the bath, sandpits to just on the carpet. Simple but great fun! Oh and so chewable!
11. Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set
Seriously…the fun an adult could have with these interlinking tubes is immense, never mind fun for baby bath time! The beauty of this toy is that it grows with the child, who will be able to progress from throwing and chewing the pieces, to interlinking them together and pouring water through them! Fab bargain.
12. VTech Pull and Sing Puppy
This is a great unique baby gift idea, as it does so many things as well as providing a source of entertainment. It includes in its repertoire, phrases, sounds, 3 sing-along songs and 20 melodies. The puppy teaches; colours, numbers and cause & effect. Couple this with moving legs and wagging tail, it’s a brilliant, stimulating toy for baby.
13. Nuby 18 Piece Linkables Baby Teething Toys
Looking for a practical present for a new baby? These are perfect as they’re loads of fun also. Additionally, they can be attached to lots of things such as strollers, play yards and playmats, so baby can have fun on the go. Bright colours make them stimulating and attractive. As baby grows and starts teething, the nodules on the linkables feel great on the baby’s gums. Nuby linkables also offer that tactile experience that babies crave.
14. Oball
If your friend’s child hasn’t got one of these, you should buy one. Not only are they are easy to grip and they rattle, they are soft enough not to hurt if pitched in the air by baby!
15. Step2 WaterWheel Activity Play Table
Another budget baby gift could be this superb, versatile water play centre. There is just so much to do for an older baby, who can stand. It allows them to safely splash around and build their sensory skills.
It’s great as it’s not too big, so you can move it easily into the shade, and play inside with it, if the weather isn’t brilliant.
What is a unique baby gift?
The best gifts for babies stimulate their senses or are extremely practical for their parents. Babies love putting everything in their mouths so look for different baby gifts that incorporate this sensory experience.
Give a gift that focuses on the contrast that they can see. Highly colorful toys like the bath toys above are perfect for babies to learn about the world around them.
Where can I find inexpensive baby gifts?
There are now so many places you can find affordable baby gifts. Here are some suggestions:
- Amazon
- Etsy
- Mothercare
- Ebay
- Macy’s
How do I choose unique baby gifts?
There are a variety of ways to do this. Think about the parents and what they likely need. Also, have they mentioned anything that they have already bought? Cross that off the list? Consider maybe something neutral if the parents want the sex of their bundle to be a surprise.
What to look for in a unique baby gift
Usefulness
Think about how long parents can use your gift for. Is it a go-to gift for calming baby down, or something they will use time and time again. Cute baby gifts are lovely, but will it help tired parents mid-meltdown or after a long tiring night?
Style
Practical and cute is the perfect winning gift for newborns and babies in general. Some gifts can create memorable photos for your friends of their bundle of joy.
Ease of use
No-one is going to spend the time fiddling with a baby gift that is hard to use. It will go straight to the charity shop. Best to read reviews and ensure your unique baby gift is easy to use. Ideally think about whether a parent could use it with one hand, since the other one is usually carrying baby. Easy to use baby gifts will save parents time.
What do new moms need for baby?
There are lots of practical and fun things you could arrange together in a cute hamper for new moms.
- Lots of cloth bibs
- Plastic bibs for feeding
- Burping Cloths
- Baby bubble bath
- Baby bath towel
- Rattles
- Stroller toys
So there you have it – a selection of the best budget baby gift ideas that I have seen used and loved, or that have been recommended to me by mums.
Have you bought anything amazing for a baby that you would like to share with us?
Be sure to share in the comments x
